Silk Flowers 101

Is There Silk In Contemporary Silk Flowers? Can Real Touch Or Floramatique® Be As Good As Fresh Flowers?

What Real Touch Artificial Flowers Really Are And How Are They Made?

In order to understand what modern, top quality silk flowers are, you need to know that they are very rarely made with silk. In fact, what is referred today to as real touch (also known as fresh, true, natural, soft touch) silk/artificial flowers of the very best quality and lifelike, ultra realistic in detail look, are blends of complex chemical composites like polyurethane, latex, Poly-chloride vinyl (PCV), more advanced polymers and synthetic or natural fabrics (including, sometimes, silk). They are shaped from sculpted moulds of high precision forming abilities. Amazing elasticity of stems, foliage and buds has been achieved, similar to the bending flexibility of real flowers.

Sophisticated coating techniques are employed to give the ultimate top quality artificial flowers genuine feel to the touch. True-to-life colors are achieved with special layering processes. Original real touch technologies were developed at US universities, later perfected and tested at industrial level in Taiwan and Japan. Then they were introduced to and adapted at factories in the Orient.

Because so much is involved in making artificial flowers in the twenty first century, and so diverse materials are used, silk flowers remain largely as a generic name, a remnant from the bygone era when artificial flowers were manufactured from polyester, cotton and silk blends. We therefore use terms 'artificial' and 'silk' flowers interchangeably.

Most of the artificial flowers available today (called also permanent botanicals, faux, fake, synthetic or, traditionally silk) are produced mainly in Asia, but with the use of patents, fabrication technology and machine tools originating from America and Europe.

What Are Artificial Flowers Known As Floramatique®?

A relatively new method of fabricating artificial flowers from the polyether polyurethane (PEU) has been in existence since 2006. The flowers manufactured with this technology are sold under the trade name of Floramatique. They originate from only one factory in China, that holds the patent. We have been using Floramatique products selectively since the second part of 2006, shortly after they were introduced. Now we can present our own and solely our own assessment of them, as Hibiscus Florals' opinions derived from our observations and employing them (selectively) in creating our bridal floral arrangements.

A simplified description of Floramatique® flowers fabrication process: A mixture of polyether and polyurethane compose a light-weight foam (with chemical additives like foaming and cross-linking agents, stabilizers, etc.) that is poured into the molds to form artificial flowers' components. Paste in various colors is injected directly into the foam, then additionally sprayed onto the surfaces (of stems and leaves) and heated (to bake in the desired colors permanenty).

This very supple material resists pretty well damages caused by squeezes and collisions, and is relatively stable at ambient temperature variations. However, the polyether polyurethane's low density chemical composition (at least in presently available in the market Floramatique's artificial flowers) has limitations - it cannot be effectively and precisely formed below certain thickness, otherwise it will tear off very easily. Therefore, it does not give good botanical accuracy in imitating flowers of intricate composition and with relatively thin and/or varying in thickness petals in nature. Therefore, most of Floramarique flowers like roses, peonies, lilies, most types of orchids, etc.. are not realistic enough to give a full visual impression of precise replicas of fresh flowers - their petals are too thick and the level of detail is not sufficient (to classify them as new generation/grade 6 top quality artificials). Floramatique synthetic flowers compete very well, but with just a very few types of their real touch faux counterparts in, i.e., calla lilies and tulips (flowers that are fairly thickly built and "meaty"). And these Floramatique replicas of calla lilies and tulips, which we utilize in our custom and non-custom designs, have also a lifelike look and their feel to the touch do resemble fresh flowers, indeed. Therefore, we place Floramatique calla lilies and tulips also in the grade 6/new generation quality category (please see the quality grades' discussion in sections below).

Real Touch And Floramatique® Artificial Flowers - Which Ones Are Better?

Hibiscus Florals was the first ever floral studio to use newly emerging real touch artificial flowers in bridal floral arrangements. It was in 2003. By 2005 we had a wide and diverse array of designs exclusively with them, that is constantly growing (you can see them in our Catalog, purchase them through the shopping cart and have us made them to order for you). So we have been closely following, into its sixth year now, growing assortment, innovations and maturing of real touch flowers (along with traditional "silks"), presently made in dozens of factories in the Orient, and the emergence of a "new kid on the block" - Floramatique®.

As a result of our comparative observations over time we conclude that real touch technologies offer far more choices of truly new generation artificial flowers, delivering on the promise of being botanically accurate in appearance and precisely made replicas of fresh flowers. Floramatique is a relatively new and promising technology, but in order to truly compete with the proven and perfected real touch flowers, requires further improvements of the material and fabrication processes.

Floramatique flowers are presently far better known in the continental Europe, Britain, Canada and Australia (where major importers there carry them) than in the United States.

Which Silk Flower Arrangements To Choose?

Man-made flowers cover a broad spectrum - from low-end to very high quality. You can observe the same wide range of quality in silk flower arrangements available from online and off-line florists.

The low-end artificial flowers are sometimes dotted with tiny balls of acrylic to imitate droplets of water (dew drops) and can be bought cheaply. The petals of poor quality fake flowers do not hold their shapes and often fall off the stems. Upon close examination the dyes are mostly uneven and the edges easily fray. When used in silk floral arrangements, they appear very fake and tacky.

If quality is not a big concern for you, then many low value artificial flower arrangements can be found on auction sites where bidding prices start very low. Indeed, the price range may be a good indicator of the quality level you get.

Medium quality range silk flower arrangements may look like the "real McCoy" from a distance (and on online pictures without an adequate zoom-in feature, despite how well photographed) but do not pass the test of credible lifelike appearance upon closer scrutiny. Therefore, many online claims of "highest", "premium", "finest" or "deluxe" quality silk flower arrangements cannot be substantiated, if not supported by a presence of high resolution, detailed, close-up pictures.

Also, beware of online sellers who place photographs of fresh flowers' designs, posing as silk floral arrangements. Be cautious, for that matter, of florists who promise you to make your silk flower arrangement with ultra realistic look (of fresh flowers) but the only designs they can show you are the ones solely consisting of real blooms.

High quality silk flowers in arrangements have more lifelike appearance, ranging from pretty realistic to ultra realistic. Their stems are individually wired and wrapped, and require little effort to bend and work with. Top of the spectrum silk floral arrangements are the ones you can see up close at some exclusive hotels, upscale restaurants, art galleries and high-end boutiques. They are custom made and can be often mistaken by an untrained eye for fresh ones. We utilize the same top quality artificial flowers in silk flower arrangements we create for our customers.

The most diligent manufacturers of artificial flowers carefully examine how individual blooms resemble their natural counterparts. Then they scrupulously recreate their botanical accuracy by using cutting edge technology processes.

Top quality silk flowers in Mango Tango Collection

If you look at the popular mango calla lilies used in our Mango Tango Collection, you will find it very difficult to distinguish them from the fresh ones. These artificial tropical flowers consist of modern polymer mix that gives them lifelike elasticity and velvet-like softness.

What Are The Quality Grades For Silk Flowers?

We organized and refined quality grade classification of artificial flowers in 2005 (first introduced, in a simpler form, by an online florist in Michigan). Now you see cited and repeated on the Net term grade 6/new generation applied to highest quality silk/artificial flowers - we invented it and coined it. We associate that term only with real touch and so far with just two or three Floramatique® flower kinds.

There are six grades of silk flowers, from lowest to the highest quality. Upper quality grades are available to professional florists only, and the ones who know where and how to source. You will not find them in craft or craft chain stores.

Let us first go quickly through the quality grades of artificial flowers in a manner you can relate to:
- dollar stores: grade 1, sometimes 2;
- flea markets: grades 1 and 2;
- craft sections of department stores: grades 2 (mainly) and 3 (sparsely);
- individual and chain craft stores: predominantly grade 3, if grade 4, rarely, and at a high price.

Grades 4, 5 and 6 are professional grades, where realistic look in details, higher quality materials used and better made individual components (of flowers) come into play.

Grade 3 is made out of cheaper materials. Therefore shapes do not hold that well and edges (of petals) frail easily. The color is not uniform due to using cheaper dye lots. The texture and consistency of lower quality materials does not allow recreating details with precision in the manufacturing process.

There is a big difference, in appearance and price, once you move from grade 3 to 4.

Grade 4, made with better materials have a pretty realistic look, with all details recreated well (petals, leaves, stems, joints, thorns, etc.), in thickness, shapes and colors. Shapes do not "limp" and flowers have a natural look in color and texture.

Grade 5 are made with such degree of precision that even natural flaws in fresh flowers are copied. Very close to 100% of botanical accuracy and the most lifelike look.

Grade 6, called new generation/real touch of silk flowers offers the ultimate in quality. Not only the look is ultra realistic, but a feel to the touch is imitated. The texture of the materials is such that when you touch petals, leaves and stems you have a sense of touching fresh flowers. We include here some of Floramatique faux flowers, the ones that have sufficient detailed botanical accuracy.

A word of caution: fake, counterfeit real touch artificial flowers appeared on the market by the end of 2005. Their petals have more rubbery feel to the touch, instead of a more natural one. They do not have that high-tech coating, giving them fresh to the touch feel, applied. As they are made out of common materials, like plain rubber, industrial-grade latex or hard polyester, their petals are more rigid - a far cry from the bending flexibility of authentic new generation/real touch artificial flowers. They are also imprecisely cut from the mold and you can see that by examining closely edges of the petals.

Artificial Flowers: How It All Started

For as long as humans walked the earth, people have been trying to recreate nature's flowers using many kinds of materials.

Some of the artifacts found in ancient caves indicate that we made artificial flowers from wood shavings, stones and even human hair. Today, hand-crafting of flowers is still an art.

Our interest in copying these wonders of nature has been rekindled to the point where some contemporary manufacturers work at attaining the "botanically correct" look for artificial flowers they make. They compete with each other to get as close to the real thing as possible, and constantly amaze and surprise traditional florists, who know their craft and materials well.

Advantages Of Silk Floral Arrangements

The technology for making artificial flowers that imitate nature to pretty fine details has been in existence for just a few years. And it has been improving rapidly but steadily. It remains to be seen what new levels of detail accuracy with silk flowers will be achieved by our suppliers using modern machine tools and expert know-how.

Hibiscus Florals is thrilled to be in the forefront of this exciting and growing business. Creating beauty with silk floral arrangements is our passion, and we are very good at it. The convenience of everlasting artificial flower arrangements is not overlooked by our satisfied customers. Especially by our destination brides who often praise us for relieving their stress by providing them with maintenance free bridal bouquets of silk flowers and other wedding flower arrangements they can travel with.

Using high quality silk floral arrangements for wedding ceremonies and receptions, and to decorate living or work spaces, as the great alternative toreal ones, is a growing trend. By buying silk florals you can make an environmentally conscious decision. No water, soil or fertilizer has to be used to grow and keep them alive, unlike for the fragile and perishable wonders of nature; and that for just a moment in time.

Jackie & Mark, Owners

Hibiscus Florals

This article is a copyrighted material. It was written on the basis of extensive travels, research, studies and first-hand experience of the owners and staff of Hibiscus Florals. Therefore, it is our company's proprietary intellectual property. We uploaded the original, first verion of the article onto our site in May 2005 and we have been updating it ever since. Any unauthorized use/copying it in excerpts or in full, writing variations/modified versions of is prohibited.